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Rare-earth doped microlasers for microphotonic applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2011

Lan Yang ,
Bumki Min  and
K. J. Vahala
Lan Yang
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, U.S.A.
Bumki Min
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, U.S.A.
K. J. Vahala
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, U.S.A.
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Abstract

Sol gels provide a highly flexible technique for preparation of both planar and non-planar oxide thin films. They also enable the incorporation of various dopants into the films. In this work we describe the application of erbium-doped solgel films to surface functionalize optical microresonators. The resulting microlaser devices are especially interesting because their emission band falls in the important 1.5 μm window used for optical fiber communications. Both microsphere and ultra-high-Q microtoroid resonators-on-a-chip were functionalized into lasers and then characterized [1]. The erbium-doped sol-gel films were applied to the resonator surface and subsequently a CO2 laser was used to induce flow and densification of the sol-gel film on the surface. Optical quality thin films were obtained after the CO2 laser induced anneal. By varying the doping concentration and thickness of the applied sol-gel layers in microsphere resonators, we can vary the laser dynamics so that both continuous-wave and pulsation operation are possible. Single mode performance with high differential quantum efficiency was also obtained using the ultra-high-Q microtoroid resonator. These chip-based microlasers enable integration with other optical or electronic functions [2-3].

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 817: Symposium L – New Materials for Microphotonics , 2004 , L1.6
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2004

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References

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